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E. J. BROOKS.

SAFETY CASE FOR MONEY PACKAGES. 7 No. 354,459. Patented D00. 14,1886.

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E. J. BROOKS. SAFETY GASE FOR MONEY PACKAGES. No. 354,459. Patented Dec. 14, 1886.

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K N 00 RM B.R 0 F A 0 Y T B P A lforn y LJI NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.EDXVARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NE\V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CHAUNCEY H. CROSBY, OF BROOKLYN, AND E. J. BROOKS & (10.,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-CASE FOR MONEY-PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,459, dated December 14, 1886.

Application filed October 5, 1886. Serial No.2l5,394.

T0 (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety-Cases for Money-Packages, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for inclosing or enveloping and scaling up money, valuable papers, and the like for safe transmissionby express or by mail.

It consists in a novel substitute for the envelopes and wax seals now commonly used, the same embodying certain peculiar features of construction and new combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The objects of this invention are, first, to limit to a single one the openable seams or joints of the case in which the money or other valuable is inclosed, and to securely guard this joint by a seal or seals which must be broken or destroyed in order to detach them or to unfasten the case; secondly, to fasten such single joint by an automatic fastening device so guarded; thirdly, to so fasten the case by an automatic fastening device having its spring-catch located behind the plane of the exterior of the case to a sufficient extent to prevent access thereto for tampering with it; fourthly, to so fasten the case and by the same means to securely fasten in place an addresstag; fifthly, to attach the parts of the fasten ing devices by rivets or the like, if desired, in such a way as to preclude sawing through or drilling out such attaching devices; and, siXthly, to make such a case of cast metal, so as to be very thin and light and at the same time readily cast and of the requisite strength.

Three sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Figure 1 of these drawings, Sheet 1, is a front view of the separated parts of a safety package-case, illustrating the several features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same case closed, sealed, and labeled. Fig. 8 represents a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a like section of a modified case; and Fig. 4- represents a fragmentary section in a like plane, illustrating another modification. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a front view.

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of another modified case, illustrating the same invention in part. Fig. 6 represents a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view of said modified case, and Fig.8 is a front view of a right-hand part, representing a series, interchangeable with the right-hand part shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is a perspective view of the separated parts of another case, illustrating the sameinvention in part. Fig. 10 is a small-scale face view of the same case closed, sealed, and labeled. Fig. 11 represents a section of the same in the plane indicated at l 1, Fig. 10, on a larger scale; and Fig. 12 represents a fragmentary section in a like plane, illustrating another modification.

Like letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the several figures.

This safety package-case in each of said examples thereof comprises an envelope box or case proper consisting of two seamless parts, A B, each open at one end only, and adapted to slide one into the other, so as to form a single strong lap-j oint, J, when the case is closed. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4, 4-, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12.) An automatic fastening device for saidjoint comprises two main parts, E F, inseparably attached to the respective case parts A B, and adapted to telescope when the case i is closed. A spring-catch, O, in said part E, coacting with a hole, D, in said part F, automatically fastens the device when the case is closed. A recess, R, in the face of said part F, accommodates a glass seal, S, and locates it in front of the catch 0 when the case is closed, while a smaller opening, 0, in the face 8 of said part E, exposes the fastened seal to View, and permits it to be broken and removed to unfasten the case by pushing back said catch. In most of the forms a movable mask, M, connected with said part E, normally closes said opening 0, so as to protect the seal S against being accidentally broken. 7 It is shown in effective position in Figs. 2 and 3, in full lines in Fig. 5, &C. By retracting said mask, or moving it aside, as represented 9 by arrow in Figs. 2 and 10 and by dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 12, access is had to the seal for inspecting and breaking it. The mask is shown retracted in Figs. 1 and 9. y

In the species represented by Figs. 1, 2, and I 3 the case parts A B are of east metalsuch as malleable cast-iron or steel or brass and are made very thin ,except where they are strengthened by external ribs, 2, which facilitates the flow of the metal throughout the mold, and may be subsequently ground down to minimum thickness, so that there shall be no surplus weight. The corners of the case parts are all rounded, so as to prevent opening and reclosing any of them without so marring the case as to insure detection. The part A is provided with a socket, y, in which the fastening part E is inseparably attached by rivets, integral with its shell, passing through the back of said socket and headed inside the case. The fastening part F is correspondingly attaehed to the case part Bby inwardly-projecting rivets within a socket, x. The catch has a blade-spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is located behind the seal and inside of the plane of the exterior of the case. The mask M slides transversely, its complete withdrawal being prevented by a stop-pin, w,- and it may be held in its different positions by springing the mask itself, so as to produce sufficient friction. A stud-pin, '0, within said part E and a recessed portion, a, of said part F adapt the closed fastening to securely attach a labeling-tag, T,- bearing the address of the consignee, for example; and provision is made for applying a supplemental shackle-seal, S

Fig. 3-such as a lead and wire seal-so that an express company, for example, may applyits own seal after the package has been sealed up by the consignor. The means for applying such seal consist of a perforated lug, t, on one of the case parts A B at thejoint J, and a recessed lug, s, on the other case part embracing said lug and correspondingly perforated for the reception of the shackle of the seal.

In the modification represented by Fig. 4 the fastening part E of the fastening device is wholly sunk within a socket, y, in the case part B, so as to be flush with the outer surface of the latter for additional protection of the spring-catch C- within the same, and the fastening part F is attached to the inside of the case part A, its attaching-rivets being masked within the joint J when the case is closed, as

seen in the figure. The seal S is thus located behind the outer surface of the case, which may render any mask, M, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8m, unnecessary, and the exposed seal itself, with or without marks on the case parts A B, may indicate the consignee without the tag T, Figs. 2 and 3.

In the modification represented by Fig. 4? equivalents of said sockets y 00, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, to assist in holding the fastening parts E F, and to prevent sawing through the attaching rivets, are formed by external ribs, 1" q, cast I or molded on the respective case parts A B,

so as to be integral therewith. The rivets which attach both fastening parts are integral with their backs, so as to headed inside the case.

In the species represented by Figs. 5 to 8,

. catch-hole, D, in said part F coincides therewith. A longitudinally-sliding mask, M, is employed, and a supplemental spring-catch, p, similar to said catch 0, is provided within an extension of the housing E to retain said mask in its effective position, the mask having a struck-up socket, 0, to coact with said catch 1); and the respective case parts A B are further provided with suitable distinguishing marks-as lettering and numbers a mZk-cast or molded thereon,which in the example take the place of the tag T, Figs. 2 and 3, and with the aid of interchangeable parts, as B, Fig. 8, may furnish the shipping-cases of banks and like establishments with permanent combination-marks in a superior manner. One of the relativelyexpensive case parts A, provided with the housing E of the fastening, its catch 0, and mask M,would thus be used in connection with a series of interchangeable companion parts, B F.

In the species represented by Figs. 9, 10,

and 11 the seamless case parts A B are of I thin sheet metal, formed by stamping halves of each into shape and inseperably uniting the pieces of brazed joints, as indicated in Fig. 9. The spring-catch O and catch-hole D are like those first described, for example. The fast- 'enin g parts E F are constructed with marginal flanges h g, which are soldered or brazed to the case parts inside of the latter, holes f e being cut in the case parts, through which the bodies of the respective fastening parts project. Outside of the case proper the respective fastening parts are provided with the pin and recess 1; u of those first described, by which a labeling-tag, T, is attached, and. the mask M is attached to the face of the housing E by a pivotal rivet, d, and fastened by catch-indentations c c in the mask and housing.

In the modification represented by Fig. 12

the fastening parts E F project wholly within the case. The said tag-attaching devices are omitted, and the mask M is attached by a hinge, b, and fastened by a distinct spring-catch, a. Otherwise said fastening parts EF, with the case parts A B, to which they are attached, may be like those shown in Figs. 9 to 11, for example. They are so represented.

IIO

I have described in detail a case, Figs. 1 to 3, embodying all the features of my present invention, as hereinafter claimed, and the principalmodifications thereof which have occurred to me. Other similar modifications within the scope of myseveral' claims will sug gest themselves to those skilled in the manufacture of such articles. I propose making the case proper of any suitable sizes, shapes, and materials, including sheet metal spun or turned, as well as stamped and brazed, and the catches and seals may be of any approved make.

Having thus deseribed my said improvement in safety-cases for money-packages, &c. I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specification-- 1. Asafety-case for money-packages and the like, comprising two seamless case parts fitting one within the other to form asi ngle transverse lap-joint, and provided at said joint with a seal or seals which'must be broken or destroyed to open the case, substantially as hercinspecified.

2. The combination, in a safety-case, of two seamless case parts fitting one within the other to form a lap-joint, and provided at said joint with telescoping fastening parts,one of which contains a springcatch, and a seal which must be broken or destroyed to obtain access to the fastened catch, substantially as herein specified.

3. The combination,with two seamless case parts fitting one within the other to form a lapjoint,of two telescoping fastening parts inseparably attached to the respective case parts at said joint, and provided, respectively, with a springcatch for automatically fastening the case,and a face-recess containing a glass seal, the housing part, which admits the latter and contains said catch being attached within a socketin the case part, so as to locate said catch behind the seal inside of the plane of the exterior of the case, substantially as herein speci- 4. The combination,with two seamless case a parts fitting one within the other to form a lap joint, of two telescoping fastening parts inseparably attached to the respective case parts at said j oint,one of the latter being provided with a spring-catch and a stud-pin and the other with a catch-hole, a face recess to contain a glass seal, and a recessed portion which coacts with said studpin to attach a labeling-tag, substantially as herein specified.

5. The combination of two seamless case parts fitting one within the other to form a lap-j oint, and provided at said joint with apair of fast,- enin g parts inseparabl y attached to the respective case parts by stud-rivets or the like,which are masked, substantially as herein specified, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a safety'case for money-packages and the like, a case proper consisting of two seamless case parts of very thin cast metal provided with a net-work of external ribs,which facilitates the flow of the metal in the mold, and

may be subsequently ground down to a minimum thickness, so that there shall be no surplus weight, substantially as herein specified.

EDYVARD J. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. O. WEULs, L. F. HovEY. 

